Charlton Athletic to beat Sheffield United and Portsmouth to 'brilliant' transfer

Charlton Athletic are set to beat Championship rivals Portsmouth and Sheffield United to the signing of highly-rated Reading midfielder Harvey Knibbs this summer in another head-turning coup for the London outfit.

Nathan Jones has wasted no time in strengthening his squad for the upcoming Championship season, once again keen to get all of his business wrapped up by the start of the campaign. Charlton Athletic have been shopping in League One and that strategy continues as they move towards the signing of Knibbs.

Sonny Carey and Rob Apter have both arrived at The Valley from Blackpool with Stockport’s Tanto Olaofe also snapped up. Thomas Kaminski, Amari’i Bell and Reece Burke have been signed from relegated Luton Town and last season’s League One Golden Boot winner Charlie Kelman arrived from QPR over the weekend.

Charlton Athletic closing in on Reading transfer

Knibbs is next on the list with transfer specialist Pete O’Rourke reporting that a deal has been agreed for the Reading player. Writing on social media platform X, he said: “Charlton have agreed a fee with Reading for Harvey Knibbs and the move is set to be finalised later this week.”

The News claims that both Portsmouth and Sheffield United, as well as Oxford United, had also been monitoring a move for Knibbs. The player, who managed 14 goals and six assists in League One last term, has been at the Select Car Leasing Stadium since 2023. Knibbs is a product of the Aston Villa academy and broke into the first team at Cambridge United between 2019 and 2023.

Speaking about Knibbs after a late penalty strike from the midfielder secured three points against Rotherham United earlier this year, Reading manager Noel Hunt said: "He has been brilliant. Even with all the noise around him in January, he’s been a class act.

Harvey Knibbs praised by Noel Hunt

"He is in and around the penalty area for the first goal and obviously talking about the boys being brave and putting crosses into dangerous areas, Sav was brilliant and put some brilliant ball in. It's a stonewall penalty. The referee has done well to see it but I think everyone in the stadium saw it but to have the courage to give it."

Knibbs has never played Championship football before with his career so far spent in League Two and League One. Charlton Athletic face Ipswich Town in pre-season action on Friday evening before a trip to Southend on August 2.

The Championship season then begins for the Addicks against Watford at The Valley on August 9, which is when Knibbs and the long list of new signings could make their competitive debuts for the side.

In other news, 'Enquiry Made': Charlton Athletic could flog 'forgotten' bagsman to Bolton Wanderers.